The Atlanta Falcons have won two straight and are a 3.5-point home favorite against the 3-1 Baltimore Ravens. The schedule makers couldn’t have imagined the Falcons would be the team flying high in the battle of the birds. Will the Falcons ruin the Ravens’ rule of the roost?
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL Showdown $1M Sunday Night Showdown [$250K to 1st] (BAL @ ATL)
Ravens vs. Falcons DraftKings Showdown Captain Picks
Bijan Robinson ($17,700 CP): Atlanta is a home favorite, and its offense runs through Robinson. He piled up 360 total yards and four touchdowns over the last two games. Baltimore allows about 100 rushing yards per game, which is middle of the league. He also catches passes, so a quiet day on the ground does not sink him. Lamar Jackson’s absence makes a Falcons lead more likely, and a team protecting a lead hands the ball to its best back, so Bijan Robinson is the Captain at $17,700.
Ravens vs. Falcons DraftKings Showdown UTIL Plays
Drake London ($9,800): Penix’s top target has 370 receiving yards through four games, including 96 last Monday night against the Saints and 194 the week before against the Packers. That was a Thursday night game. Night time is the right time. Drake after dark is dominant. Baltimore’s secondary is thin, with Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey missing practice. Atlanta should lean on London if the Ravens load the box to stop “The Robinsons” (Bijan and Brian).
Zay Flower ($10,000): Flowers caught eight of his 10 targets for 118 yards and a touchdown against Tennessee. Huntley is likely to throw him quick, short passes that Flowers can turn into big gains — Flowers had a 52-yard catch from Lamar Jackson in Week 4 before Jackson got hurt. Flowers is listed as questionable with a foot injury, so check his status before lock. The injury uncertainty should lower his ownership.
Mark Andrews ($6,400): Huntley — like many backup quarterbacks — has leaned on tight ends in the past. Andrews scored last week. Atlanta has given up three touchdowns to tight ends in four games. Durham Smythe’s season-ending injury also opens up more snaps for the tight ends behind him. Rookie TE Matt Hibner ($2,100) has been targeted twice and caught both passes in each of the last two games. The fourth-round pick out of SMU and Michigan scored a TD in Week 3.
Ravens vs. Falcons DraftKings Showdown Fades
Derrick Henry ($11,000): Atlanta allows 48.3 rushing yards per game and 2.7 yards per carry, with only two rushing touchdowns given up. Henry has run for fewer than 3.5 yards per carry in each of the last two games. Baltimore’s offensive line is banged up. The offense is limited without Lamar Jackson. The Falcons can focus their attention on shutting down King Henry.
Ravens vs. Falcons DraftKings Showdown Strategy and Prediction
Atlanta wins by running the ball and can control the clock against a Ravens offense playing without Lamar Jackson. Tyler Huntley can keep Baltimore close with short throws, but the Falcons’ defense should hold the Ravens down.
